PA1P and PA1A: the probate forms

Last reviewed 18 August 2026

The whole apparatus of probate turns, for most people, on a single choice of form — and that choice is settled by one question: was there a will?

Which form, and when

Use PA1P to apply for a grant of probate where there is a will; use PA1A to apply for letters of administration where there is no will. Both can be completed on paper, but most applications now go through the GOV.UK online service, which asks the same questions in a guided form. Either way, the £526 fee applies to estates over £5,000.

What the forms ask

The forms cover the deceased’s details, the executors or applicants, the value of the estate, and the inheritance-tax position. You will need the death certificate, the original will (for PA1P), and your inheritance-tax figures ready. Errors on these forms are the commonest cause of delay, so check the values and names carefully before you submit.

Sources. GOV.UK, Applying for probate (PA1P, PA1A, online service, fees).